COLOMBO: This handout photo released by the Sri Lanka Customs Office yesterday shows a Sri Lankan customs official displaying gold that had been found stuffed in a man’s rectum at the country’s main international airport. —AFP

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka customs arrested an India-bound air passenger attempting with “difficulty” to smuggle nearly one kilogram of gold stuffed in his rectum, a spokesman said yesterday. Officials were alerted when the 45-year-old Sri Lankan behaved “suspiciously” at Colombo airport’s departure lounge on Sunday, spokesman Sunil Jayaratne said. “He was called for a thorough screening after customs officers noticed him walking with difficulty and appearing to be in pain,” Jayaratne told AFP. He said a close examination revealed the gold wrapped in black plastic sheets. Among the 904 grams of gold recovered were seven yellow “biscuits” and six chains. The haul was valued at 4.5 million rupees ($30,000). He described him as a courier for an organized smuggling ring.